Patient zero in the Fraser Valley measles outbreak is believed to be a member of a family that took a trip to the Netherlands in January.

The BC Centre for Disease Control has traced the outbreak to Holland — a country that has experienced several outbreaks this year, according to the Dutch health ministry — although it’s not the only country where unvaccinated Canadians are at risk of infection.

<aic:endattr val=”ccase”/>“With the exception of the Americas, there’s really measles everywhere,” a CDC spokesperson told reporters, adding that Europe in particular has seen many outbreaks in the past few years.

Nonetheless, two cases of measles last August in the Fraser Valley were also linked to the Netherlands.

The outbreak began to pick up speed in early March, as the number of people infected jumped from two students at a religious school in Chilliwack to dozens of suspected cases among fellow students.

A pastor for the Reformed community at the centre of the outbreak told a Vancouver Sun reporter many in his congregation of 1,200 are unvaccinated, preferring to leave the matter in “God’s hands.”

The infectious period for measles is 21 days.

Experts say those who are not vaccinated and showing symptoms of the virus, which include fever, cough, running nose, inflamed eyes and later, a rash, should isolate themselves at home for 21 days until the infectious period has passed.

Fraser Health Chief Me

dical Health Officer Paul Van Buynder said staff are “disappointed” that people who are showing symptoms have not been isolating themselves. As a result, the virus continues to spread.

A vaccination rate of 95 per cent is necessary in order for community (or “herd”) immunity to work. In the eastern Fraser Valley region, vaccination rates are about 60 to 70 per cent.

Herd immunity protects those who are unable to be vaccinated, such as babies and kids with low immunity from cancer treatments, by disrupting the chain of infection. (Ie. If everyone you come into contact with is vaccinated, it’s very unlikely you’ll contract the disease.)

Experts say measles and several other diseases that are avoidable are making a comeback due to “anti-vaxxers” who refuse to vaccinate their kids.

The number of measles cases as of Friday is over 100, according to a Fraser Health spokesperson.

Most of the cases are in the eastern Fraser Valley, while all link back to the original outbreak.

The most recent cases include a worker at a retail outlet and a public school student.

Measles alerts were sent to staff who worked at the Chilliwack Lions Club Music and Dance Festival and to students living on campus at the University of the Fraser Valley. An earlier case involved a BCIT student.

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